Bambee HR Software Review 2024

Why Bambee Is Best for Risk Management

Bambee provides automated risk management and compliance tools, and customers also receive hands-on compliance support from a dedicated HR manager. We consider this an incredibly valuable resource for risk management because it is so easy for small businesses to make mistakes in today’s business climate.

Many startups or very small businesses can’t afford to hire an in-house HR manager. However, without one, it’s easy to make a costly mistake by misclassifying an employee, miscalculating payroll taxes or not following the proper procedures when firing an employee. Bambee’s dedicated HR managers are available to help craft policies that make sense for each business. Having clear, written HR policies that are compliant with applicable laws and regulations is one of the most important risk management measures that small businesses can take. Should any issues arise, Bambee provides its clients not only with a dedicated HR manager but an HR coordinator and a business coordinator as well. This ensures there’s always someone available to respond when needed.

While we liked Bambee’s focus on personalized support, prospective customers should note that Bambee does not operate internationally. Bambee is a strong risk management solution for companies with workers in all 50 states; however, if your company works extensively with

Bambee provides each client with a dedicated HR manager, business manager and HR coordinator who are available to respond to requests via the Bambee platform, phone, chat or email. Credit: Bambee HR

Usability

Bambee HR can be accessed through a web app or web browser. The platform has a very user-friendly interface that is simple and does not require a lot of technical skills or experience to navigate. Since Bambee’s services are targeted toward startups and companies that may not have an in-house HR team yet, we liked that the platform was clean and intuitive enough for someone without prior experience to easily navigate.

Documentation is a key piece of risk mitigation, and Bambee supports this with great employee file and document management tools. Bambee allows employers to easily access employee data, notes and documents in a central employee file. Managers can assign to-do’s to each employee that will show up on the employee’s dashboard and in their staff file. Employers can even manage individual employee settings and permissions in their staff files.

Bambee’s HR Autopilot tools are also key for risk management and mitigation. Bambee automatically verifies that all core HR policies are current, signed by your employees and reaffirmed semiannually within the platform. Your dedicated HR manager can craft any HR policy that your company needs. Policies can be distributed, acknowledged and stored in the platform; this makes it easy for employers to ensure that each employee has access to up-to-date policies and that there is a paper trail of their acknowledgment of them.

A major component of Bambee HR’s service is ongoing communication with a dedicated HR manager. Business owners can utilize chat, email or phone to communicate with their designated HR manager. A built-in request system allows clients to file requests directly in the Bambee platform, as well. Competing HR software vendors typically assign dedicated support representatives only for onboarding or at higher subscription levels. The in-platform messaging tools offer an easy way for clients to stay connected with their HR manager and ask quick questions. We do wish that Bambee had a mobile app for on-the-go messaging, but the chat feature does work in mobile browsers.

Chatting with your dedicated HR manager is a great way to get answers to questions as they arise. Credit: Bambee HR

Bambee Features

Hands-On HR Guidance

The primary thing that sets Bambee apart from its competitors is the hands-on HR support that Bambee customers receive from a dedicated HR manager. Small businesses often run into compliance issues due to improper employee classification (especially in states with complex independent contractor laws), terminations, and unclear or improper HR policies. Having a dedicated HR manager as a resource allows these businesses to minimize risk by conferring with an experienced and knowledgeable HR specialist to ensure that they are proceeding in a compliant manner and have the right policies and documentation on file.

An overview of the main Bambee HR dashboard, which features an intuitive layout of features on the left and a to-do list in the central section. Credit: Bambee HR

Custom HR Policies

One of Bambee’s most important HR software features for risk management is its employment policy tools. Bambee offers a mix of automated tools and hands-on support for small businesses that need to build out their HR policies. Many startups and small businesses avoid developing proper written policies because the process can be time-consuming. However, not putting your policies in writing can lead to compliance issues and a lack of clarity for employees. Bambee’s dedicated HR managers can draft clear written policies and distribute them to employees to make sure that everyone is on the same page and risk is minimized.

Training and Certification Management

Compliance is a huge concern for startups. It can be hard for small business leaders to keep track of all the labor laws and regulatory compliance considerations facing their business. This is especially true for businesses that hire remotely or operate in different states with varying laws.

Mandatory training in areas like sexual harassment, workplace safety and business ethics is one of those issues. Requirements vary by state regarding the specific training that needs to be provided and whether it needs to be done only by managers or by all employees. Bambee HR can take care of these important mandatory training sessions. Business owners can track employees’ progress and completion within Bambee’s platform to ensure everyone finishes their assigned courses.

Employees can earn certificates within the platform, including sexual harassment training certificates. Credit: Bambee HR

Performance Management

Bambee offers a variety of performance management tools designed to support goal tracking and encourage regular conversations between employees and managers regarding performance. Managers can create report cards detailing employees’ performances and their progress toward their set goals. They can also leave encouraging messages or helpful suggestions for employees within the Bambee platform.

Bambee HR’s performance management tools help managers provide frequent feedback to employees. Credit: Bambee HR

Payroll Processing

Bambee HR offers payroll processing features on par with competitors in the industry. Employers can provide two-day direct deposit for employees, and Bambee HR can automatically handle federal, state and local payroll taxes. Bambee HR can also provide guidance on employee classification, laws regarding scheduling and compensation, and other payroll matters.

However, Bambee bills itself as primarily an HR solution with additional payroll capacity, not the other way around like many competitors. If you’re looking for a solution with payroll as more of a centralized feature, check out our review for Gusto.

Bambee subscribers can access guided payroll tools within the platform and reach out to their dedicated HR manager with any questions. Credit: Bambee HR

Employee Feedback

Bambee provides a special feature to help employers solicit feedback from their employees. Bambee’s Employee Voice function allows employees to share concerns or feedback, either anonymously or with their names attached. Bambee HR advises that this feature can be used for collecting employee feedback on job and workplace satisfaction, as well as for encouraging employees to recognize one another’s accomplishments.

Bambee HRO

Bambee HR is a human resources outsourcing (HRO) service that is designed for small businesses and startups. Bambee’s HRO services can help startups handle all of their HR needs, including building employment policies from scratch, setting up employee benefits and developing HR procedures. Bambee provides dedicated hands-on support to startup founders and managers to collaboratively build out businesses’ HR processes and policies.

Employee Handbooks and Policies

Many startups put off building an employee handbook because of the time and expertise required to compile all of the necessary policies. It is particularly challenging for businesses that operate in multiple regions, because they must create policies that are compliant with various state and local laws. Instead of continuing to put off this task, startups can outsource it to Bambee. Bambee’s knowledgeable HR managers can draft employee policies and handbooks that fit your business’s needs and meet relevant compliance guidelines.

HR Audits

Bambee’s experienced HR managers will conduct HR audits for new customers to identify gaps in the business’s existing HR policies and processes, as well as potential compliance concerns. If a startup has been handling HR on its own with limited resources, there will likely be some missing pieces within its HR infrastructure. Bambee’s HR managers can help close existing gaps by working with the business to create an action plan for fixing any issues found during the audit.

Employer Coaching

Bambee HR includes hands-on support and coaching from a dedicated HR manager who can walk businesses through challenging HR processes, such as employee terminations. Startup founders who are new to managing teams or navigating HR matters will benefit from Bambee’s employer coaching services. The assigned HR manager is available by chat, phone or email to walk employers through complex processes and help them improve their own leadership and HR skills and knowledge.

Bambee HR Software Costs

One thing to note about Bambee’s plans is that its pricing model differs from those of many of its competitors. While many HROs charge a per-employee fee, Bambee charges a flat monthly rate based on the size of your business. Pay attention to the setup fee for each plan, as they are higher than those of comparable plans at many competitors.

Here are Bambee’s current plans:

• Zero employees: $99 per month, with no setup fee
• One to four employees: $299 per month, plus a one-time $500 setup fee
• Five to 19 employees: $399 per month, plus a one-time $500 setup fee
• 20 to 49 employees: $699 per month, plus a one-time $1,500 setup fee
• 50 to 70 employees: $1,299 per month, plus a one-time $2,000 setup fee
• 71+ employees: Custom pricing

All plans except the zero-employee plan include unlimited phone, email and chat support with a dedicated HR manager.

Setup

The setup process for Bambee is fairly straightforward. New customers are asked to provide information about their business and existing HR policies. Bambee HR then assigns a dedicated HR manager who will audit your existing HR policies and procedures to identify any gaps in those policies and guide you through the onboarding process. We asked Bambee how it pairs businesses with the right HR manager, and we were informed that HR managers are assigned based on their experience level, industry expertise and fit with each client’s company culture.

The implementation timeline can vary depending on the needs of the customer. Onboarding can take as little as one week for simple implementations. Businesses with extensive setup needs should expect onboarding to take longer. The only thing we didn’t like about Bambee’s onboarding process is that there is a setup fee, which isn’t particularly common among Bambee’s competitors.

Once the initial data migration and account setup process is complete, your assigned HR manager will complete an audit of your existing HR policies. Then, they will provide guidance on any necessary updates or gaps in your current policies. We really like this added step in the onboarding process, as it’s important for employers to review and audit their existing policies each year. However, this can get overlooked by busy small business owners.

Customer Service

One of the biggest advantages of Bambee HR as an HR software service for startups is that each business is assigned a dedicated HR manager. This dedicated HR manager can answer questions related to the platform or HR topics. Business owners can contact their HR manager by phone, email or live chat.

Bambee HR representatives and customer support agents can be reached between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday. This is a relatively standard support window, but it may be inconvenient for employers with a large number of staff members based on the East Coast. If you are looking for an HR software vendor with 24/7 customer support, check out our Paychex Flex HR software review.

Drawbacks

One major drawback of Bambee HR is that there is no mobile app available for employees or administrators. Most of the competing HR software services, including Paycor, Paychex and Gusto, offer mobile applications that support common functions such as payroll reporting and timekeeping. However, the web platform can be accessed on mobile browsers.

Another drawback is that Bambee’s services are limited when it comes to employee benefits. Bambee’s HR manager can help employers craft employee benefits policies and navigate relevant compliance matters, such as ACA compliance; however, Bambee does not directly administer employee benefits. Employers looking for HR software with stronger benefits functionality may want to read our TriNet HR software review.

Methodology

We conducted comprehensive research and analyzed dozens of HR systems to identify the top HR software solutions on the market. We attended a product demo with Bambee staff to explore the user interface and explore the service offerings. We also reviewed product videos and current customer reviews. When looking for the best HR software for risk management, we prioritized features such as compliance training, HR policy creation tools, termination guidance and ACA-compliance support. Bambee provides a great mix of hands-on risk mitigation support while also integrating risk management into the various platform tools, making it our top choice for risk management.

Overall Value

We recommend Bambee HR for … 

• Startups and small businesses that do not currently have an HR manager or internal HR team.
• Businesses that need support navigating compliance issues.
• Companies that do not yet have clear written company policies or an employee handbook.

We do not recommend Bambee HR for …

• Large and enterprise businesses.
• Businesses that want extended customer support hours.

Erin Donaghue contributed to this article.